KMW and FFG Strategic cooperation Brazilian M113 upgrades

Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, April 12th 2011. Krauss-Maffei Wegmann (KMW), Europe’s market leader for protected tracked and wheeled vehicles, officially announced the founding of a new subsidiary in Brazil today on the occasion of the opening ceremony of the Latin America Aero & Defence exhibition.

Named KMW do Brasil and located in Santa Maria in the southern Brazilian state of Rio Grande do Sul, the newly founded company will act as a continental hub for KMW’s activities in South America.

“This step is a clear commitment to Brazil which has recently purchased LEOPARD 1A5 main battle tanks and respective periphery systems, delivered by KMW” Frank Haun, CEO of KMW, said during his visit to the Rio de Janeiro. “Now we want to extend our activities and with Santa Maria we have found an ideal location to build up a new KMW-service, -production and –technology plant. This is a dedicated commitment to Brazil for a true technology transfer and a true local content.”

KMW’s strategic intention is to transfer technology to Brazil where, after the build-up of the new manufacturing site and together with local engineers and experts, military vehicle solutions are to be developed according to the specific needs of the Brazilian Army. In addition the new subsidiary will serve as maintenance centre for land systems and later also as a manufacturing site. Furthermore it will focus on the generation of new business opportunities in a market that is of strategic importance due to the high demand for highly sophisticated land systems and cutting-edge technologies. With the formation of its South American subsidiary KMW also continues its path of regional cooperation and technology transfer.

The new company is headed by Christian Böge. He has a long standing record in sales and marketing and an in-depth knowledge of the region.

Krauss-Maffei Wegmann GmbH & Co. KG leads the European market for highly proetcted wheeled and tracked vehicles. At locations in Germany, Brazil, Greece, the Netherlands, Singapore, the USA and Turkey some 3500 employees develop, manufacture and support a product portfolio ranging from air-transportable, highly protected wheeled vehicles (MUNGO, AMPV*, F2, DINGO, GFF4 and BOXER*) through reconnaissance, antiaircraft and artillery systems (FENNEK, GEPARD, LeFlaSys*, Armoured Howitzer PzH2000, DONAR* and AGM) to main battle tanks (LEOPARD 1 and 2), infantry fighting vehicles (PUMA*) and bridgelaying systems (LEGUAN).

In addition, KMW has wide-ranging system competence in the area of civil and military simulation, as well as in command and information systems and remote-controlled weapon stations with reconnaissance and observation equipment for day and night missions. The armed forces of more than 30 nations worldwide rely on tactical systems by KMW.

* Joint venture with national and international partners

Fonte – KMW